Cuban scientists are working on the genetic improvement of important forest species, as part of the national reforestation strategy the island has implemented.">Cuban scientists are working on the genetic improvement of important forest species, as part of the national reforestation strategy the island has implemented.">

Cuban Scientists Genetically Improve Forest

08/13/2010. Cuban scientists are working on the genetic improvement of important forest species, as part of the national reforestation strategy the island has implemented.

The objective of those researches is to increase species in timber volume, resin production, resistance to pest and diseases, as well as qualitative characters as stem straightness, kind of ramification, etc.

Anibal Gonzalez, from the Forest Research Institute, told Prensa Latina that to reach those objectives, we need to rely on the use of efficient agricultural techniques.

The preparation of soils for the plantation, mineral and organic fertilization, cultural care, and vector control are among those techniques, he stated.

That improvement is being implemented in successive phases that go from the evaluation of different species and geographic breeds in different localities. The objective is to choose those of better adaptability in each case, the expert said.

As an average, genetic gains run from 20 percent and 30 percent in timber increases, while in case of conifers, the country obtained results in resin production until 20 percent in comparison, in all cases, with what we achieve in unimproved sources.